People Aren't Smart Enough for Democracy to Flourish, Scientists Say

[QUOTE="Wasdie"]

[QUOTE="airshocker"]

I'm a US citizen, gitmo doesn't affect me. Neither does the NDAA.

lordreaven

Obama changed the wording of the NDAA so it doesn't include American citizens.

Democracy seems to be the best system we've come up with so far. Many countries use different variations of democracy and thing seem to be going pretty good.

Don't let the media's hyperbole and exaggerations fool you, the world isn't on the verge of collapse. Our standard of living is the highest it's ever been and we are making rapid technological advances. If anything the world is experiance massive growing pains as it adapts to the changing technological times.

He is a lawyer. Lawyers are trained in debating and winning the argument at all cost. IMO, we need more engineers and scientists to run our country. But that really wasn't the point. DaBrainz

That'd be a serious knock against them in polls.

I'd say people aren't involved and knowledgeable enough. It's not a matter of intelligence, its a matter of effort and access to information.

sonicare

[QUOTE="TopTierHustler"]

harvard graduate with honors who volunteered to help the poor is lower than average?

airshocker

Would you call President Bush lower than average? Just curious.

[QUOTE="airshocker"]

[QUOTE="TopTierHustler"]

harvard graduate with honors who volunteered to help the poor is lower than average?

DaBrainz

Would you call President Bush lower than average? Just curious.

What does that have to do with hat TopTeir was implying?

[QUOTE="airshocker"]

[QUOTE="TopTierHustler"]

harvard graduate with honors who volunteered to help the poor is lower than average?

DaBrainz

Would you call President Bush lower than average? Just curious.

[QUOTE="airshocker"]

[QUOTE="TopTierHustler"]

harvard graduate with honors who volunteered to help the poor is lower than average?

TopTierHustler

Would you call President Bush lower than average? Just curious.

I still think his policies and beliefs were stupid though.

[QUOTE="DaBrainz"][QUOTE="airshocker"]

Would you call President Bush lower than average? Just curious.

Wasdie

What does that have to do with hat TopTeir was implying?

I came here expecting an Onion article. I am disappointed.

The fact that there is a study reinforces that voters in a democracy can be stupid. Just look at the 2008 debate or any debate for that matter. So much misinformation, ridiculous claims, and barely any commitment to principles and ideals. It's ridiculous. The 2012 presidential election will be the same unfortunately.

Maybe we do need a dictatorship. A benevolent one.

I already knew that. Just look at America. 18 of 24 times they have voted for the tallest candidate.

[QUOTE="kuraimen"]Their advantage over dictatorships or other forms of governmentis merely that they "effectively prevent lower-than-average candidates from becoming leaders.DaBrainz

I came here expecting an Onion article. I am disappointed.

The fact that there is a study reinforces that voters in a democracy can be stupid. Just look at the 2008 debate or any debate for that matter. So much misinformation, ridiculous claims, and barely any commitment to principles and ideals. It's ridiculous. The 2012 presidential election will be the same unfortunately.

Maybe we do need a dictatorship. A benevolent one.

leviathan91

[QUOTE="DaBrainz"][QUOTE="kuraimen"]Their advantage over dictatorships or other forms of governmentis merely that they "effectively prevent lower-than-average candidates from becoming leaders.kuraimen

[QUOTE="lordreaven"]

[QUOTE="Wasdie"]

Obama changed the wording of the NDAA so it doesn't include American citizens.

Wasdie

Democracy seems to be the best system we've come up with so far. Many countries use different variations of democracy and thing seem to be going pretty good.

Don't let the media's hyperbole and exaggerations fool you, the world isn't on the verge of collapse. Our standard of living is the highest it's ever been and we are making rapid technological advances. If anything the world is experiance massive growing pains as it adapts to the changing technological times.

Oh, I understand, the world is not on imminent collapse. how ever, Democracy is not as great as most of us believe.

lordreaven

If everyone has an equal voice, the people have political awareness, and they are adequately educated, then democracy is just fine.

[QUOTE="Minishdriveby"]"when a congress oversteps it's bounds. It gets shellacked in an election year." That's only if the majority is affected. If it was a minority group that lost their freedoms the majority wouldn't really care because they didn't lose anything. They would care even less if they benefitted from the others loss of freedom and would probably re-elect the same politicians. So now we're back to my original statement. As long as you as the majority says you have your freedoms you're safe. As soon as you become a minority that the majority dislikes you lose your freedoms.airshocker

And again, just because there's a majority in the house doesn't mean it can't be undone ie November 2010.

Looks at America, looks at the fact George Bush got elected twice.... Agrees with statement.

[QUOTE="airshocker"]

[QUOTE="Minishdriveby"]"when a congress oversteps it's bounds. It gets shellacked in an election year." That's only if the majority is affected. If it was a minority group that lost their freedoms the majority wouldn't really care because they didn't lose anything. They would care even less if they benefitted from the others loss of freedom and would probably re-elect the same politicians. So now we're back to my original statement. As long as you as the majority says you have your freedoms you're safe. As soon as you become a minority that the majority dislikes you lose your freedoms.Minishdriveby

And again, just because there's a majority in the house doesn't mean it can't be undone ie November 2010.

Except when a minority has monopolized power ;).

Looks at America, looks at the fact George Bush got elected twice.... Agrees with statement.

MattDistillery

[QUOTE="Minishdriveby"][QUOTE="airshocker"]

[QUOTE="Minishdriveby"]"when a congress oversteps it's bounds. It gets shellacked in an election year." That's only if the majority is affected. If it was a minority group that lost their freedoms the majority wouldn't really care because they didn't lose anything. They would care even less if they benefitted from the others loss of freedom and would probably re-elect the same politicians. So now we're back to my original statement. As long as you as the majority says you have your freedoms you're safe. As soon as you become a minority that the majority dislikes you lose your freedoms.jetpower3

And again, just because there's a majority in the house doesn't mean it can't be undone ie November 2010.

Except when a minority has monopolized power ;).

Looks at America, looks at the fact George Bush got elected once.... Agrees with statement.

MattDistillery

All right, that's enough. This thread has already made me livid. Goodbye.ghoklebutter

[QUOTE="lordreaven"]

Oh, I understand, the world is not on imminent collapse. how ever, Democracy is not as great as most of us believe.

ghoklebutter

If everyone has an equal voice, the people have political awareness, and they are adequately educated, then democracy is just fine.

[QUOTE="ghoklebutter"]All right, that's enough. This thread has already made me livid. Goodbye.kuraimen

[QUOTE="ghoklebutter"]

[QUOTE="lordreaven"]

Oh, I understand, the world is not on imminent collapse. how ever, Democracy is not as great as most of us believe.

Minishdriveby

If everyone has an equal voice, the people have political awareness, and they are adequately educated, then democracy is just fine.

And again the it can only be undone if the majority of citizens want it undone. And so if the majority of representatives say hey let's lock up all Japanese-americans in concentration camps and the majority of civilians go "Yeah that sounds good," nothing stops the government from not eliminating the freedoms of the Japanese-americans. It's not like the japanese americans can undo the house majority. They have no rights. And the majority are either scared/dislike the japanese-americans so they're not going to vote for a senator that gives them rights. It may eventually be overruled, but if the majority always fears/hates a minority they will never have the same freedoms. See what I'm saying?Minishdriveby

That's not true. Just because there is a majority of a certain party in a legislature, doesn't mean the country as a whole adheres to the beliefs of that majority.

[QUOTE="ghoklebutter"]

[QUOTE="lordreaven"]

Oh, I understand, the world is not on imminent collapse. how ever, Democracy is not as great as most of us believe.

Minishdriveby

If everyone has an equal voice, the people have political awareness, and they are adequately educated, then democracy is just fine.

ftfy

[QUOTE="Minishdriveby"] And again the it can only be undone if the majority of citizens want it undone. And so if the majority of representatives say hey let's lock up all Japanese-americans in concentration camps and the majority of civilians go "Yeah that sounds good," nothing stops the government from not eliminating the freedoms of the Japanese-americans. It's not like the japanese americans can undo the house majority. They have no rights. And the majority are either scared/dislike the japanese-americans so they're not going to vote for a senator that gives them rights. It may eventually be overruled, but if the majority always fears/hates a minority they will never have the same freedoms. See what I'm saying?airshocker

That's not true. Just because there is a majority of a certain party in a legislature, doesn't mean the country as a whole adheres to the beliefs of that majority.

[QUOTE="Minishdriveby"][QUOTE="ghoklebutter"]

If everyone has an equal voice, the people have political awareness, and they are adequately educated, then democracy is just fine.

Socijalisticka

ftfy

Too bad that's false because education is a solution to bad democracy.

[QUOTE="lordreaven"]

Oh, I understand, the world is not on imminent collapse. how ever, Democracy is not as great as most of us believe.

ghoklebutter

If everyone has an equal voice, the people have political awareness, and they are adequately educated, then democracy is just fine.

Well, i don't think people are smart enough to make communism work either.

[QUOTE="ghoklebutter"]

If everyone has an equal voice, the people have political awareness, and they are adequately educated, then democracy is just fine.

lordreaven

No, it's not the case. But it can be the case. Your point is moot.

the article doesn't say democracy doesn't work. it says people in general are bad and evaluating things they do not full understand, even when they think they're well informed they're usually not. the concept that we elect our own leaders is working just fine. this is just a statement on their quality.comp_atkins

Well, i don't think people are smart enough to make communism work either.

dissonantblack

The groupthink involved would be unbelievable.

[QUOTE="comp_atkins"]the article doesn't say democracy doesn't work. it says people in general are bad and evaluating things they do not full understand, even when they think they're well informed they're usually not. the concept that we elect our own leaders is working just fine. this is just a statement on their quality.ghoklebutter

[QUOTE="lordreaven"]

[QUOTE="ghoklebutter"]

If everyone has an equal voice, the people have political awareness, and they are adequately educated, then democracy is just fine.

ghoklebutter

No, it's not the case. But it can be the case. Your point is moot.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voter_turnout#Socio-economic_factors

And look at that chart to the right.

This is a given.. Hence why we have a democratic republic.. Mob rule never works.sSubZerOo

This is a given.. Hence why we have a democratic republic.. Mob rule never works.sSubZerOo